Top 5 Space Opera Films

“Space opera” is a phrase that defines a genre of science fiction literature, and can also be applied as a category for movies. Typically, space opera occurs on a galactic scale, involves intelligent races other than humans, and has multiple types of spacecraft, from speedy corvettes to battleships capable of destroying planets. There is plenty of action and adventure in space opera. One thing you can be nearly certain of when watching a space opera film is that you won’t get bored. What follows is my opinion of the top five space opera films, in chronological order. I consider these movies to be equally good and none deserves to outshine the others.

1. Star Wars

This movie set the bar extremely high for all space opera films that came after. Groundbreaking special effects combined with an almost Shakespearean level of epic storytelling allows us to see characters meeting local challenges on a backdrop of galactic discord.

2. The Empire Strikes Back

Many fans consider this film to be the best of the Star Wars movies. The conflict between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader is knocked up a notch and betrayal of a friend becomes a strong theme. This movie shows us the seductive nature of the Dark Side and how joining it is a credible temptation.

3. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

This film pits one of the most famous sci-fi captains versus a superb villain who brings an intense, theatrical mood to the film. We understand and sympathize with Khan’s desire for revenge, even if we may not agree with the methods he uses to pursue that revenge.

4. The Fifth Element

If you enjoy space opera films with a liberal dash of comedy and strange visuals, “The Fifth Element” is your cup of alien tea. Good acting is a key factor, with impressive performances by Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, Gary Oldman, Chris Tucker and Ian Holm. Combining comedy and drama acting for this type of script is not an easy feat.

5. Serenity

This movie is based on the ‘Firefly’ television series created by Joss Whedon, who also directed and wrote the film. Unlike most heroic sci-fi captains, Mal is considered a criminal by the galactic society. In the film, Mal shows that unlike many criminals, he supports average galactic citizens more than the powerful forces trying to control them, and he is willing to die for the right of those citizens to have transparency in government.

Josh Evans

Josh was interested in science fiction and fantasy from an early age. He has read classic SF authors such as Isaac Asimov and Robert Heinlein, and modern authors such as Neal Stephenson, Alastair Reynolds and Greg Egan. He is also a movie enthusiast who enjoys many film genres. He has visited NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena to get a glimpse of the Mars Curiosity rover, and is a big fan of space exploration.

‘2001’ and Solaris lack a major attribute of space opera: a galactic civilization. A large solar system civilization with colonies on multiple planets would also qualify, in my view.

Nigel, I’d put Starship Troopers in my top 10. Good film. A military invasion of an alien planet with spacecraft probably qualifies the film as space opera, since civilizations from different worlds are in conflict.

I was really disappointed at the short run of Firefly… just one more addition to my recent let-downs… I’m still waiting on that 3 year stasis that the crew of Destiny is on right now too.. wondering how Eli is getting along, if hes dead yet etc lol…. If Days of Our Lives can run for like 200 years why can’t any good sci-fi shows keep going?

I talked to Craig Engler at SyFy fairly extensively, if it we’re up to him, and truly, nearly everyone ELSE at SyFy, Stargate Universe would have continued. Unless someone, (a network) with deep pockets picks it up, it’s quite dead indeed. Craig bore the massive brunt of nasty press because of it. Caprica being cancelled previously didn’t help, either.

Dirk Van Tilborg

I’ll probably get a bunch of flak for this…but what about ‘The Chronicles of Riddick’? Talk about space opera. You’ve got the Roman Empire in space subjugating all the inhabited worlds. I thought it was very original in the look and feel of the film compared to many other scifi films.

In fact, I will mention something even more controversial. I enjoyed the sequel more than “Pitch Black.”

Dirk Van Tilborg

I’d have to agree. As much as I enjoyed ‘Pitch Black’, I have repeatedly watched and enjoyed ‘Riddick’. I still hope that we might see the two sequels that had been planned, but given Universal recently shying away from big pictures has probably squashed those hopes.

Hehe. For the SF genre definition, the word “opera” is meant to express a grand scope and intensity of adventure, which also fits as a definition for opera music. However, the similarity with the music ends there.